Cooling unit for refrigerator systems



March 23, 1954 w, DAlLEY 2,673,074

COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATOR SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 4, 1952 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Fig.

Fig. 3

Joe W. Daileyy INVEN TOR.

Attorneys March 23, 1954 R J. w. DAILEY 2,673,074

COOLING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATOR SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Joe W. Dai/ ey INVEN TOR.

Patentecl Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COOLING UNIT FOR SYSTE REFRIGERATOR This invention relates to a cooling unit for a refrigerating system and particularly to a cooling unit and blower system for circulating cold air through a cooling device.

In the construction and utilization of cooling units for refrigerators, air coolers and such other devices either of the walk-in, reach-in type, or of the room cooler type, complicated and expensive equipment has been necessary to blow the air over the cooling coils, and particularly for dehumidifying or defrosting the air and cooling coil as may be necessary.

The present invention provides a rotary blower having a cooling coil or evaporator coil concentric therewith and so positioned that any of the unit may be readily disassembled for repair or other servicing as may be necessary. The unit is of the type which may be so cycled that there will be no necessity for defrosting the unit.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved cooling unit for a refrigerating system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooling unit having a coaxial blower and cooling coil.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cooling unit which may be readily demounted for service or repairs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an extremely simple and reliable cooling unit having a high degree of efficiency.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an intake end elevation of the cooling unit according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the cooler unit showing the component parts thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 1 and showing the arrangement of the device.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a housing Ill of substantially convolute shape is provided with an intake opening l2 at one end thereof and a discharge opening I4 in the side thereof. The intake opening I2 is provided with a shroud or guide ring it for coop eration with the blower unit presently to be described.

The end of the casing in opposite the opening I2 is a substantially closed surface l8 and is provided substantially axially thereof with an extended sleeve 20. A plurality of bearings 22 and 24 are arranged in spaced relation in the sleeve 26 to provide a rigid bearing support for a stub shaft 26. A collar 28 is rigidly fixed on the stub shaft 26 and a sheave 38 is driven by a suitable source of power by a belt 32. A fan supporting plate 34 is provided with a hub 36 having an aperture 38 for receiving the inner end of the stub shaft 26 which is provided with a keyway 40 to receive the key 42 for rigidly connecting the hub 36 onto the stub shaft 26. A spacing washer 44 is provided between the disk 34 and the end of the bearing 22 to provide a space between the disk 34 and the end l8 of the housing.

A plurality of blades 50 are connected to shroud rings 52 and 54 with the shroud ring 52 rigidly mounted on the disk 34.

The guide or shroud ring [6 extends into proximity with the shroud ring 54 so that the rotary blower will draw air in through the opening I2 and discharge the same through the opening [4.

An evaporating tube 56 is provided in spiral formation so that it forms a cylinder substantially concentric with the blower elements 50 and preferably mounted inside of the blower although obviously it may be mounted on either side thereof.

The intake end 58 of the evaporating coil 56 is connected to the usual source of condensed evaporating material through the suitable capillary or control valve. The outlet end 60 of the pipe 56 is connected to the usual suction line of the condensing pump of the evaporating system.

The pipe 56 is wound into the spiral 62 which is preferably of a size which just clears the blades 50 of the blower. In order to properly maintain the spiral 62 in proper relation to the blades 56, a frame construction having U-shaped members 66 and 68 is arranged to fit tightly within the spiral 62 and has outturned ends in provided with apertures 12 to be connected to the end of the casing Ill in proximity to the intake opening l2. The U-shaped members 66 and 68 cross each other at right angles and at the point of junction they are connected together and connected to a bearing cup 18 which extends in telescopic relation to the hub 36. An anti-friction bearing such as the bearing 86 is interposed between the cup 18 and the hub 36 so that the U-shaped members 66 and 6B are maintained in centered relation with respect to the blades 50.

In the operation of the device, a suitable control valve, not shown, will control the admission of expansible fluid through the junction 58 into the pip 56 which is wound in the spiral 62 and the expanding fluid or evaporation of the fluid in the coil 62 will maintain the coil at a low deree of temperature. The fan will rotate to draw air over the coil 62 as a heat exchange device so that the air will be cooled and delivered throughfthe opening [4 for any suitable refrigerating purpose. Obviously, the cool air may be utilized either to chill a refrigerated space such as a walk-in or reach-in refrigerator or to cool the air for an air conditioningsystem or any other such type of device including aircoolers for vehicles or other suitable devices.

The extended bearing will serve to maintain the rotary blower in firm relation in the housing It and the interconnection between the cup 18 and the hub 36 Will maintain the coil 62 in closely spaced relation with the rotary fan so that there 1 will be no danger of injury'of a coil by the rotary ,For purposes of exemplification, a particular embodiment of. the invention has been shown,

:and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes'and modifications "can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

:Having thus described the invention, what is claimed-as new is:

, 1. a cooling unit for a cooler having a casing with an intake opening in one end of said Teasing and .a bearing mounted in the'other end :of said casing, a stub shaft iournaled in said bearing, a disk, 'a-hu'bfon said disk, said hub fixed on said stub shaft, a centrifugal blower secured o'nJsaid 'disk, an evaporation 'coil substantially concentric with said blower, a supportin frame, said coil being mountedon said frame, said frame being attached to'said casing adjacent to said intakeo'pening.

'2. In a coolin unit 'fora'coole'r having a easing with an intake opening in one end of said casing, a bearing mounted in the other end of said casing, a stub shaft journaled in said bearing, a disk, a hub on said disk, said hub fixed on said stub shaft, a centrifugal blower secured on said disk, an evaporation coil substantially concentric with said blower, a supporting frame, said coil being mounted on said frame, said frame being attached to said casing adjacent to said intake opening, a bearin cup fixed on said frame, said cup extending in telescoping relation with said hub, a bearin interposed between said hub and said cup.

M 3. In a heatexchanger unit having a centrifual blower mounted in a casing with an axial inletat one end and a radial outlet with a heat exchange coil. mounted between said inlet and outlet, a supporting structure comprising a bearhousing, a frame mg sleeve secured to the casing, a plurality of spaced apart bearings mounted in said sleeve, a shaftjournaled in said bearings, a hub on the inner end of said shaft, a supporting frame for the coil, a centering cup fixed on said frame and J'ournaled on said hub.

'4. in a cooling unit having a cooling coil mounted in concentric relation with a centrifugal fan andenclosed in a-casing having an axial and a transverse opening, a coil supporting structure comprisinga shaft journaled axially in said includin a plurality of U'-'shaped frame members, the bights of said U-shaped member being secured in transverse relation to each other, acup-shapedsupport se- "cured to said frame'andljournaled on said shaft.

JOE W. DAILEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date Re12,796 Davidson May 26, 1908 1,189,470 OBrien July 4, 1916 1,884,898 Smith, Jr Oct. 25, 1932 

